After his [Distraction] performance at the black market, Athelei now held the Tidal Tome in his angelic hands. He was deep under the surface of the sea, studying the water-based Mystic Patterns it had recorded. This had been a part of his routine recently, and tonight he had decided on finally engraving a Mystic Pattern into his mind.
Aquatic beasts were swimming and thrashing around overhead, but Athelei remained unbothered. None of the beasts had dared approach the opened Tidal Tome for some reason, granting Athelei a peaceful environment to focus in.
Artists had to be studious people. They were mage-like existences here in the world where Athelei lived. They needed a steady hand, an excellent mind, and discipline.
Now, the reason why Rank 0 Artists were said to be at the level of [Patterns] was because of a simple concept when it came to Mystic Patterns themselves.
Each individual Mystic Pattern was a building block. They were the very basics of a more complex topic or the different elements in the universe. Some like to say that Rank 0 Artists could survive without a good brain because of the simplicity of individual patterns.
When it came to Mystic Patterns, everything was straightforward.
Gust creates a gust of wind.
Hunter gives one the characteristics of a predator.
Sway allows the change of a different party's views.
Guide directs a person towards what they wished for.
Doppelganger creates a body double.
This simplicity made it easy to operate and manage one's arsenal. Which put into consideration what kind of pattern an Artist would want to carve into their mind. After all, their very first pattern would be the first building block they would place down.
It would define their future career as an Artist when they would carve a sequence of Mystic Patterns, and eventually when they carve a circle filled with many different sequences. An Artist's first pattern would be the basis of their instant casting, thus making it a vital decision.
If they carved an offensive pattern, then in the future they might be able to insta-cast an offensive circle, bringing about large-scale destruction in the blink of an eye.
The same applied to defensive or utility-based patterns.
Why did this matter? Well, having to draw hundreds of Mystic Patterns in a dire situation was simply absurd. It was not applicable in a battle, and even if it was used, it required a large amount of time to prepare.
Thus, Rank 2 Artists like Lady Karire were severely weakened when placed outside of their specialization. But if they were allowed to place themselves where they were strongest, they would indeed be the absolute strongest among those of the same level.
Lady Karire's Mystic Pattern circle was nicknamed [Malicious Storm] and showed its grand advantages when around large bodies of water. Water breathing, thunder and lightning, heavy rains, weather changes, as well as powerful winds were a package deal.
The Tidal Tome had a record of its own Mystic Pattern circle. In fact, the entire book was about every individual pattern and sequence needed to recreate the Mystic Pattern circle called [Poseidon's Domain].
Athelei had chosen a Mystic Pattern from the hundreds that the Tidal Tome had. It was a vital pattern that allowed [Poseidon's Domain] to be a 'domain.'
It was called Area, which was a utility-type Mystic Pattern that spread about an Artist's Mystic Energy throughout a designated area.
Alone, it barely had functionality, but Athelei was looking into the future. Moreover, after learning how to draw Area, he had discovered a special interaction it had with his Tangible Will.
A person's Tangible Will was basically just Mystic Energy imbued with an immense intent. When Athelei drew Area, he could manipulate his spread-out Mystic Energy and use it like Tangible Will but without having to throw it out from his body. He had dearly wished to test it out a while ago when he was fighting those guards, but alas, he did not want to expose a signature move he would use to protect his physical body.
Having Nikiri Mist's enemies become Orien's enemies did not sound like a good idea. He was already walking on a knife's edge by using his bronze Tangible Will and copying Irene's techniques. Thankfully, his Tangible Will was still in the process of being refined—which meant that the bronze colour was still going to change.
And so, while putting all of his efforts into a single action, Athelei slowly and excruciatingly carved into his mind. A trail of white Mystic Energy was scarring the fibre of his thoughts, and Athelei repeatedly went over Area's different lines and shapes.
He drew Area at least a thousand times before he saw the light at the end of the tunnel. After wounding himself enough times, the scars bearing Area's special image had finally been stained by a permanent glow.
The first thousand Area patterns drawn had all faded, but after Athelei's latest redrawing, a bit of the power he imbued into his drawing had refused to dissipate.
"Yes!" Athelei hissed. The pain he had felt was incredibly weird as he was currently separated from his physical body. It was like he was hurting... but not really... but he was indeed hurting... but not...
Something awkward like that.
Now, his thousandfold attempts hadn't been with any real power. It was actually all a mental thing, and the Mystic Energy required to do so was minuscule as he reused the same wisp of energy again and again.
It was like writing with only a quill, and only slightly dipping it into ink at the very start.
Now, however, Athelei had to pour his Mystic Energy into the carving in his mind, which meant that he had to use a lot of ink.
Fwuuah!
Athelei involuntarily spread his grey wings when he felt the influx of sensations caused by his carving. That flap of his wings sent a small shockwave to kick up sand on the ocean floor.
Waves of nausea swamped the young human as he forced his Mystic Energy into the scars in his mind. Thirteen points of [Mana] equalled thirteen mind-numbing attempts. Just when Athelei thought he had failed after running out of strength, he realised he had one droplet left.
His Mystic Energy reserves had increased at that moment. On his status screen his [Mana] now equalled half of his [Intelligence]. This numerical characteristic made for a unique feeling that Athelei felt was spreading across his physical body despite his separation.
And so, one more mind-numbing Area pattern was drawn in his mind. Athelei thought about the headache that he would have to deal with when he belatedly realised how his Mystic Energy depletion might just cause his fog-body to dissipate.
When the final Area pattern was completed, the engraving glowed in a beautiful milky white light.
But Athelei did not have time to examine the geometrical-looking Mystic Pattern as his fog-body disappeared. Gone was the angel who sat in front of the Tidal Tome at the edge of an underwater cliff.
.
.
.
"Agh!" Athelei gasped as he sat straight up in his bed. The stinging pain he felt inside his brain was a severe migraine. His eyes felt like they were the ones being carved out of his eye-sockets now, while something from inside his head was pounding on his skull.
It was worse than his motion sickness. Many times worse.
Athelei was shivering under his blanket, clutching his head in pain for a good hour as he was hounded by the migraine. He groaned and hissed with every coming wave, but at the same time, he made sure not to loudly do so as he did not want anyone outside his room to hear him.
The sun was rising on a new day, and it was only when the sun had completely revealed itself did the throbbing cease.
"Naming me after the morning has granted me another interesting coincidence, father, mother," Athelei grumbled as he felt the sunlight on his pale face.
His eyes were bloodshot due to his suffering as he tried his best to enter a meditative state, hoping it could soothe the after-effects of his migraine.
"...I will have to pick the Tidal Tome up too..." Athelei spoke to himself as he felt the presence of the Area pattern in his mind. Now that the painful tide had ended, he felt the satisfaction of mortal growth.
The Mystic Pattern was there, glowing in the midst of the darkness, like a tattoo of light. Athelei placed a smidgen of power into the Mystic Pattern and he felt it activate instantly. He did not have to draw a single line.
There was a short cooldown of half a second, but other than that, Athelei could cast it as many times as his Mystic Energy reserves could allow.
Outside of Athelei's mind, the symbol of Area appeared before his body. Athelei fed it the Mystic Energy it needed to spread three meters around him. When he glanced at his status window, that attempt cost him half a point of [Mana].
While nodding at the helpfulness of having a numerical representation to help him measure things, he found that there was a subtle hum of power lingering in the air. He looked to be surrounded by a loose cloud of bronze that responded to his intentions.
Now that Area was active, Athelei gave his manipulation abilities a quick stretch. He created a clone of himself out of his bronze Tangible Will and had it move around to his bidding. The bronze clone jumped, stomped, and punched out as it consumed his energy to fuel itself.
Athelei was impressed by the fact that he did not have to expel the Tangible Will from himself with this newfound ability, as the entire zone where Area had spread could be counted as his body.
He was already looking forward to what kind of Mystic Pattern circle he would create with Area as his first little building block.